Edo Woman Allegedly Stages Own Kidnapping, Demands N50 Million Ransom From Family; Police Arrest Four Suspects

Edo Woman Allegedly Stages Own Kidnapping, Demands N50 Million Ransom From Family; Police Arrest Four Suspects

June 9, 2026

The Edo State Police Command has uncovered an elaborate kidnapping hoax allegedly masterminded by a woman who conspired with three accomplices to fake her own abduction and extort a staggering N50 million ransom from her family.

The shocking plot, which police described as a carefully planned criminal conspiracy, was uncovered following a detailed investigation by operatives of the Command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit after the woman's husband reported her alleged disappearance.

According to police authorities, the suspects went to extraordinary lengths to make the fake kidnapping appear genuine. Investigators revealed that videos were produced showing the supposed victim tied up and being threatened with a firearm, all aimed at convincing family members that she had fallen into the hands of dangerous kidnappers.

The Edo State Police Command, through its spokesperson, ASP Moses Joel Yamu Ikedem, disclosed that the investigation led detectives to one of the principal suspects, identified as Israel Ability, 28, who was arrested at Ramat Park along Agbor Road in Benin City.

During the operation, officers recovered the mobile phone belonging to the purported victim from the suspect, a discovery that raised further suspicions and eventually exposed the alleged scheme.

Police said that under interrogation, Israel Ability confessed to his involvement in the plot and revealed that he had been hired by Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan, the alleged victim, to act as a negotiator and intermediary in collecting the ransom from her family while maintaining the false narrative that she had been kidnapped.

Investigators subsequently widened their operation and tracked down other individuals believed to have played various roles in the execution of the scheme. The operation led to the arrest of all suspects connected to the conspiracy.

Further searches carried out by detectives at a location allegedly used for producing the ransom videos yielded additional evidence. Among the items recovered was an automatic pump-action gun reportedly used to create the frightening scenes shown in the videos sent to family members as proof of captivity.

Police authorities said the discovery provided critical evidence that helped unravel what appeared to be a sophisticated attempt to manipulate relatives into paying a huge ransom under false pretences.

"The thorough investigation led to the arrest of one Israel Ability, male, aged 28 years, at Ramat Park, Agbor Road, Benin City. During his arrest, the mobile phone belonging to the purported victim was recovered from him," the police spokesperson stated.

"Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that he had been contracted by Mrs. Oluchi Ugbowan to negotiate ransom with her family while falsely presenting her as a kidnapped victim."

He further disclosed that all suspects linked to the criminal conspiracy had been apprehended and that a search conducted at the premises used in producing the videos resulted in the recovery of an automatic pump-action gun featured in the ransom recordings.

The case has generated widespread reactions, especially at a time when kidnapping remains one of Nigeria's most pressing security challenges. Security experts have warned that staging kidnappings for financial gain not only constitutes a serious criminal offence but also undermines genuine efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the growing menace of abduction across the country.

The Edo State Police Command assured residents that investigations are ongoing and pledged that all those found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Authorities also urged members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities and avoid participating in criminal schemes, warning that anyone found aiding or facilitating such acts would face the full weight of the law.

The suspects are expected to be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.